Breast-pushed weeder and cultivator



March 12, 1929. DE SOTO E. RICHARDSON l,705,l40

BREAST PUSHED WEEDER AND CULTIVATOR Filed Aug. 14, 1923 if." 'nl 42 f 20 Ill-Ill F 2/ Mllll m llllllllll 19 v m @Il Patented Mar. 12, 192 9.

UNITED STATES DE SOTO E. RICHARDSON, OF RIVERSIDE, WASHINGTON.

BREAST-PUSHED WEEDER AND CULTIVATOR.

Application filed August 14, 1923. Serial No. 657,299.

My present invention relates to an improvement .in breast-pushed weeders and cultivators, and particularly to an implement of the hand-cultivator type constructed and adapted to be breast-pushedand hand-guided.

An object of my invention is to provide an implement of this character having breastpushing means connected therewith in such a manner that the pushing and propelling 1 force is exerted at'a point to accomplish maximum results with a minimum expenditure of physicaleflort.

A further object resides in so constructing and arrangingthe pushing mechanism that this part is adjustable for operators of different sizes, and that the operator can conveniently grasp and move the usual handles of the implement'to guide the course in which the implement is pushed.

frame andtool-holding portions for the weeder or cultivator, which are particularly adapted for use with an implement ofthis type, and which are well fitted for embodiment with my improved breast-pushing structure.

With the above and other objects in view,

which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, this invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will now be set forth in connection with the drawings In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a cultivator constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the cultivator.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary .front elevation showing the mounting of the carrying wheels and the construction of the supporting frame.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the breast pad and support.

With my improved-form of implement the side supporting frame members 38 and 39' have hubs 40 and 41 which support the axles on which carrying wheels 42 and 43 are mounted. Tool supports 44 and are carried at the rear endsof the supporting frame members 38 and 39, and the handles 46 and 47 extend from the supporting frame members.

At points adjacent the hubs 40 and 41, the yoke members 48 and 49 extend upwardly from the supporting frame members 38 and 39, these yoke members being either made integral with the frame members, or being rigidly attached'thereto. The yoke members 48 and 49 are bent over in their upper portions to Another object is to provide a supporting have horizontally extending parallel ends which will lie adjacent to each other, and these adjacent ends are provided with slot openings and 51, clamp bolts 52 and 53 being fitted through the slots to connect the ends of the yoke members adjustably together. By this arrangement of the parts, the supporting frame members 38 and 39 can be adjusted to be carried different widths to clear the rows of plants being cultivated, and the yoke members 48 and 49 are sufficiently above the ground to clear the plants.

A clip or socket 54 is connected centrally with the yoke members 48 and 49 by means of bolt 55, and the end 10 of push-rod 9 is fitted in this clip or socket.

The push rod 9 has its end 10 shaped to fit into this clip or socket .54 with a thrust bearing, the rod being thus associated with the clip in such a manner that the remaininc end is free for swinging movement in any direction. The free end of the push rod 9 has a plurality of openings 11 therein and the branched breast pad-supporting arms 12 and 13 are adjustably connected with the push rod 9 by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings 14. The arms 12 and 13 are provided with pad-supporting heads adjacent their branched v ends and retaining heads 16 are formed on the extremities of these arms, the retaining heads being slightly spaced from the supporting heads. The breast pad 17 is made of Wide, flexible fabric webbing, or of other suitable material and is looped over to present a double thickness, the ends of the webbing or strip being connected together by means of straps 18 on the one end and buckles 19 on the other. Pad-supporting loops 20 and 21 are provided with slots 22 and 23 to receive the webbing strip 17, and slots24 and 25 are provided to-take the retaining heads 16 of arms 12 and 13 so that the adjacent portions of the supporting loops 20 and 21 will rest against the supporting heads. These breast pad loops 20 and 21 have strap loops 26 and 27 on their upper portions and a supporting strap 28 is connected in these loops 26 and 27. This strap 28 is adapted to be fitted over the shoulders and around the neck of the operator to retain the breast pad 17 in the proper position and this positioning is adjustable through buckles 29.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a breast-pushed weeder or eultivatorv in which the implement structure clears the plants andwith which the breast pushing attachment is connected to give maximum efliciency with a minimum of physical effort, this breast pushing attachment being movable for adjustment to the height of the operator and to permit fitting of the parts for most efficient use.

While I have herein shown and described only, certain specific embodiments, and have referred to only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

-I claim:

1. A cultivator comprising a pair of frame members, a carrying wheel mounted in conjunction with each of said frame members, a handle connected with each of the frame members below the wheel mounting, lateral extensions upon each of-the frame members above the Wheel mounting, means to secure the extensions together to interconnect said frame members, and a push rod connected for universal movement substantially centrally upon said lateralextensions to extend rearwardly between said handles.

2; A cultivator comprising a pair of substantially, L-shaped fralne members, each havinga slotted transverse extension at the end of one of the arms thereof and having said extensions formed to lie in parallel and overlapped relation, means to adjustably secure the extensions together, a carrying wheel mounted in conjunction with said frame members substantially at the angles thereof, tool carriers mounted on the free ends of the frame members, and handles connected with said frame members and extending rearwardly therefrom.

3. A cultivator comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped members each having a slotted transverse extension at the end of one of the arms thereof and having said extensions formed to lie in parallel and overlapped relation, clamping means to adjustably secure the extensions together, carrying wheels on which the frame members are mounted substantially at the angles thereof with the transverse extensions above the axle of the carrying wheels and the remaining arms of said L-shaped frame members below the axis,

handles connected with the lower arms of the frame members and extending rearwardly therefrom, a bearing clip secured in place by said clamping means, and a push rod having one end mounted in said bearing clip extending rearwardly intermediate the handles.

4. A cultivator comprising a pair of substantially L-shapecl members each having a slotted transverse extension at the end of one of the arms thereof and having said extensions formed to lie in parallel and overlapped relation, clamping means to adjustably secure the extensions together, carrying wheels on which the frame members are mounted substantially at the angles thereof with the transverse extensions above the axle of the carrying wheels on the remaining arms of said L-shaped frame members below the axis, handles connected with the lower arms of the frame members and extending rearwardly therefrom, a bearing clip secured in place by said clamping means, a push rod having one end mounted in said bearing clip extending rearwardly intermediate the handles, and tool carriers mounted on the lower arms of said L-shaped frame members adjacent the points of connection of the handles therewith.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

DE SOTO E. RICHARDSON. 

